Self-locking box.



E. K. DAVIS.

SELF LOOKING BOX.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY22,1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

lil

I `UNITED STATES EDWIN K. DAVIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LOCKING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Continuation of application led January 29, 1907, Serial No. 354,740. This application led May 22, 1908. Serial No. 434,402.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN K. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of ,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-Locking Boxes, of which the following is a specification.'

This applica-tion is a continuation of my forfeited application filed Jan. 29, 1907, Serial Number 354740. Y

This invention relates to collapsible or folding boxes, cartons, etc., and has for its object to provide a device of this character which can be quickly and securely closed and locked in its closed position so that it cannot be opened without destroying the structure and thereby indicating such openino'. This renders the box or package nonrellable as well as non-openable, thereby rendering it useful t-o revent the substitution of contents, as wel as the abstraction of the same.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, in whichthe anks from which the box or receptacle is to be formed; Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation partly in longitudinal section of the box as it appears when filled and locked; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a brokendetail sectional view of one corner of the box.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the blank from which the com,- pleted package, as a box or carton, can be constructed, and which is preferably' formed from suitable flexible material, preferably card board or paper of suifieient thickness to answer the purpose for which the package is intended.

The blank is divided into suitable sections.

6. The blank is further folded or creased,

as shown at 7 to form the end pieces 8 and 9. The end pieces 9 are each provided upon their outer ends, with oppositely extending tongues 10, which are adapted to be folded inward upon the lines 11 over the end pieces 8, when the sides 4 are turned up to form the box, and which tongue is provided with a lip 12 which is adapted to be passed through a slit or perforation 13 in each side 4 near its upper edge, the tongues being Figure 1 is a plan view of one form ofv adapted to be folded upon the lines 14, so as to cause the tongue 10 to' lie flat against .the sides 4 with the lips projecting upward toward the top of the box,when the box is completed.

The top or cover 3 is provided upon its free edge with a Hap or extension 15 which is adapted to be projected through a slot 16 formed near the top of one of the sides` 4. The flap is creased as at 17 so that its outer edge may be folded back upon the inner portion so that after the iiap has been inserted through the slot 16, the free edge will open or spring away from thc main portion of the flap so as to engage with the interior of the box in which position it is held against dislodgnient by the pressure of the contents of the box, thus preventingv the withdrawal of the flap without destroying the package and thereby indicating that it has been tampered with. As shown in the drawings, the distance between the slot 1G and the top of't-he side 4 is less than the height of the upturned end-portion of the iap 15, which construction prevents the possibility of successful manipulation of said flap to release its engagement.

One edge of the flap 15 is preferably provided with a slit 18, which extends diagonally inward to the crease 17 and forms a tip or point 19, which projects below the fold 17, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and assists in entering the folded flap into the slit 16.

If desired, a reinforce, as a metallic plate or paper strip 20, may be secured to the downwardly extending portion of the tiap 15 so as to permit the use of very thin paper or material, and engage the edge of the slit thereby preventing its removal after the box has been closed. Said reinforce also serves to press the upturned portion of the free end of the Hap' 15 outwardly, and thus prevent its flattening against the innerface of the box for the purpose of withdrawal through the slot 16.

When the package is to be used for fragile or breakable objects, as eggs, the supplemental cover 6 is provided with flaps 21, which are adapted to be folded down transversely of the box, so as to form partitions, and thereby dividing-the box into compartments, within each of which may be placed the article that is to form thecontents of the package. In such case, the free edge of the supplemental cover 6 is provided with an extension 22 which adds the desired strength or stiffness to the cover and is adapted to be folded down against one of the sides pieces 4. The ends of said cover are also referably provided with extensions 23, which) are folded down against the ends 8 in the form of narrow flaps.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that my package can be cheaply formed, as it can be stamped, creased and slotted from the material at one operation, after which it can be readily folded into shape, the inverted folded ends of the tongues 9 greatly reinforcing each corner, and the insertion of the lips 12 into the slits 13, locking the sides and ends together so as to hold them in proper shape for receiving the coiitents. When it is desired to close the box, the cover 3V is folded over the top of the box with its -iaps inserted between the tongues S) and the sup lemental cover 6 and the free edge of the ap l5 folded inward and the flap inserted through the slit 16. When closed in this manner it is evident that the box cannot be opened for any purpose without destroyin it or dainagin it to such an extent as to indicate that it as been tampered with.

Having thus described iny invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is- `l. A collapsible package, one side of which is provided with a longitudinal slit, the top of same being provided with a folded lap having an upturned ortion adapted to be passed through the sit, and a reinforce on the inside of said flap ada ted to engage the edge of the slit, substantie ly as described.

2. A collapsible package, one side of which is provided with a longitudinal slit, the top of same being provided with a folded flap having an upturned end portion of greater length than the distance between the top of the side and the longitudinal slit therein adapted to-be passed through said slit, said upturned end portion being adapted to spring outward and engage the interior of the box to form an automatic lock, substaiitially as described.

3. A collapsible package, one side of which is provided with a longitudinal slit, the top of same being provided with a folded flap having an upturned end ortion adapted to be passed through said s it, a reinforce on the inside of said folded flap adapted to force the upturned portion thereof outward to engage the side of the box to form an automatic lock, and to prevent the compression of the folded fla and disen agement therewith, substantia ly as descri ed.

4. A collapsible package, one side of'which is provided with a longitudinal slit, the top ofsain'e being provided with a folded flap having an u turned portion', one edge'of the flap being slitted diagonally inward to form a forwardly extendingpoint to assist in entering the flap into the side of the box, a reinforce on the inside of said folded flap adaptedto force the upturned portion thereof outward to engage the interior of the box to forni an automatic lock, and to prevent its compression and disengagement therewith.

5. A folding box, each side of which is provided with a Hap and slotted longiy tudinally near each end, and one side is slotted centrally between the slots, the iiap on the one side forming a cover and being creased and slitted diagonally inward from one edge to the crease to form a point for assisting in entering the central slot of the other side when the iap is folded to form an automatic lock, the other flap formin a supplemental cover, and being provided with flaps to form partitions and with reinforcing extensions, the ends of the box being formed from overlapping portions, the outer portion of each end being extended and provided with notched tongues the extension being folded over the inner portions and the notched-portions of the tongues being passed through the end slots in the sides of the box.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub-` scribing witnesses.

EDWIN K. DAVIS'. Witnesses: v

H. `M. Dri'rin, THOMAS H. CoNLoN. 

